Improvement in windmills



W. PECK.

Wind-Mills.

Patented July 16, 1872,

STATES WALTER Prox, or nookronn, ILLINOIS.

IMPRVEMENT IN WINDMILLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 129,165, dated July 16, 1872.

SPECIFICATION.

`of reference marked thereon.

Figure l is a perspective view taken from the rea-r side. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken longitudinally of the main shaft and vane, and

Figs. 3 and 4 represent modifications of the devices for changing the angle at which the fans are presented to the wind.

Similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in all the gures.

This invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement, which will be fully explained.

In the drawing, A represents the support to which the mill is secured in an elevated position. B B1 B2 is a bracket or supporting frame, consisting of two horizontal lian ges, B B1, each provided with circular openings, and connected by a vertical web or base, B2, which is bolted to standard A. The bracket has also two slotted ears, b b1, one at its lower end and one near the top. G is a hollow cylinder mounted in a vertical position in flanges B B1, and revolving freely therein. The openin g or bearing in ilange B1 is smaller than the bearing in flange-B, and the lower end ofthe cylinderis correspondingly small, leaving a shoulder which rests upon the upper face of liange B1, and thus supports said cylinder. After the cylinder is placed in position a pin is inserted in the protruding end below an ge B1 to prevent the cylinder from rising. C1 is a collar ittin g loosely upon the cylinder C. The collar has a vertical arm, c, rising from one side and extending up through the flange B, its upper end itting in a groove cut for its reception in the outside of the cylinder, the groove being deep enough to let the arm in its full depth, so that it shall occupy no additional room in the bearing in the flange. The lower end of the cylinder has longitudinal ribs or feathers c1, which engage with corresponding notches in the inner surface of the collar C1. Thus the cylinder and ring must always rotate together, while the ring is free to slide up and down upon the cylinder, for a purpose which will be explained. (l2 is a bent weighted lever, pivoted to any convenient support and connected, by means of a link, o2, with a bar, c3, which slides in ears bbl. c4 is a stud or spur projecting from bar c3 and engaging with a peripherical groove in collar C1. Thus the collar and sliding bar are made to rise and fall together. C3 is a base or frame formed in one piece with cylinder C, and projecting at a right angle from the upper end thereof. Base G3 serves as a support forv the vane D and the main shaft D1, the latter being mounted inelevated bearings dd1. Shaft D1 is provided, at its inner end, with a crank, d2, arranged centrally of the hollow cylinder C, as is customary in this class of mills. D2 is a metallic head,

having radial sockets in which the arms D3 are bolted or otherwise secured. E are the wings or fans, each made, by preference, of a number of narrow strips, but any other approved construction may be employed. The fans are hinged centrally to arms D3, as at d3, in such manner that they can be rocked or oscillated thereon, in order that they (the fans) shall be presented to thewind at different angles, as the force of the wind or the power required shall determine. v

I will now describe the construction of the devices immediately connected with the fans for controlling their position. E1 is a shiftingring, having a diam etricalbar or girt, e, which is mounted on a stud, e1, projecting from a short bracket, e2, which will be soon described. Each of the fans E is pivoted to ring E1, each pivot being at a short distance from its corresponding hinge, so that it can be made to serve as a crank to rock the fan upon its hinges, as will be readily seen. e3 e3 are levers, each pivoted at its inner end to an ear formed upon one end of bracket e1. (See Figs. l and 2.) These levers are connected with bar e by means of links c4. They are each provided with a projecting arm, c5, arranged opposite to links e, and connected, by links es, with a sliding crosshead, G, on the opposite side ofthe metallic head D2. (See Fig. 2.) F F are governor-balls connected with the free ends of levers c1 c3 by rods f. F1 are supporting-arms, bolted or otherwise secured to arm D3, and employed to vsustain the outer ends of rods j' and governorballs F, the rods sliding in perforations in the ends of the arms. The cross -hcad G, (see Fig. 1,) is made in two parts secured to each other by bolts passing through ears or lugs, as shown, and is mounted loosely upon shaft D1. It turns with the shaft but is free to slide thereon longitudinally. His a bell-crank lever, pivoted between the ribs that support the vane D. The arm c of collar G1 is pivoted to the horizontal arm of the bell-crank lever H, the vertical arm of said lever being expanded into a T-piece, and connected by means of two links, h h, with a ring, h', which iits in a groove in Ilthe hub or sleeve of cross-head Gr. (See Fig. 2.) The bearing d is formed with a way or groove upon each side, in which the links 7L h slide; hence the pivot which unites said links with the bellcrank lever His relieved from any twisting strain which might otherwise be imparted by the rotation of the cross-head. The mill is propelled by the action of the wind upon the fans in the usual manner. When the speed increases beyond a certain point, the governor-balls F are thrown outward with sufficient force to lift the weighted bent lever G2, with which said balls are connected through rods j', levers c3, arms e5, links e6, cross-head G, ring h', links h, bell-crank lever H, arm c, grooved collar 0 1, stud c, 'sliding-bar c3, and link c2. As `governor-balls F are thrown outward carrying with them the free ends of levers e3, these levers pull upon links e4 and bar e, thus rotating shifting-ring E', and turning the fans so that they present a more acute angle toward the wind, thereby lessening the effective force of the mill, and checking the motion of the wheel. If the wind be violent enough the slats will be turned with their edges to the wind and the mill will stop. To guard against serve as stops to limit the throw of said lever;

the throw of the fans in the opposite direction being limited either by stops d2 on arms D3, (see Fig. 2,) or by spurs on links e6 engaging with the metallic sockets of head D2. When preferred the links e6 may be provided with two spurs or stops, e7 e, (see Fig. 3,) which shall strike against opposite sides of the socket or arms D3, to regulate the throw of the fan. I regard the central stud el as being very important, because it insures an easy and accu rate operation ofthe shifting-ring E by means of bar e. which a wire or cord, c6, is attached, in order that the position of the fans may be regulated at will, as it will be readily seen that by pulling the cord, thus raising the weighted end of Lever C2 has a heel extension, c5, to

lever c, the sections of fans will be turned edgewise just as they are by the actionof the governor.

It will be apparent from the above description, that links e6 may be connected with and operated by any of the devices in common use in mills for adjusting the fans; and, also, that any arrangement of4 cylinder, loose collar, and its vertical arms may be employed for the same purpose in many other mills in the same manner that they are in mine.

The bent lever c2 will regulate the speed of the mill by resisting the centrifugal action of the governor-balls F, as will be readily understood without furtherexplanation.

In Fig. 3 I have shown devices for turning fans toward and from the wind in those mills where but two sections are employed. In this case the governor-rods f are connected with crank-arms I I projecting directly from the fan, and the links from the cross-head G are to be connected to pins In Fig. 4 two levers, I', are used instead of the bar e, for shifting the ring E, the lever i being the .equivalent of lever e3, in Figs. l and 2, and are employed in substantially the same manner, eX- cept they are connected with the inner ends of levers I I.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. In combination with the governor-balls F F and hinged fans E, the shifting-ring E', bar e, stud el, levers e3, links e4 e5, rods j', weighted lever G2, and connecting devices, substantially as set forth.

2. In combination with the cylinder G, provided at its upper end with a groove or channel, and at its lower end with ribs, the loose collar C1, sliding-bar c3, and arm o, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination of the shaft-bearing d with the links h h, ring h', and cross-head G, whereby said bearin g d is made to support the links against the twisting strain imparted by the revolving cross-head, substantially as set forth.

4:. The bracket e2, provided with ears, in which the levers e3 are pivoted, and with the stud e1, constructed and applied to the windwheel, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination and arrangement of 1evers e3, link es, and cross-head Gr, with the socket-arm of head D2, whereby the throw of the fans is limited, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 21st day of February, 1872.

WALTER PEGK.

Witnesses i G. W. Fonn,

GnAs. S. FORD. 

